HR: 11:20h
AN: H31F-05    [PDF]
TI: Global Observations of Dust in the Infrared using AIRS
AU: * Strow, L L
EM: strow@umbc.edu
AF: Physics Department/JCET University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 United States
AU: Machado, S D
EM: sergio@umbc.edu
AF: Physics Department/JCET University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 United States
AU: Hannon, S
EM: hannon@umbc.edu
AF: Physics Department/JCET University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250 United States
AB: The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) on AQUA provides nearly complete spectral coverage of the 9-12 micron atmospheric window with a resolving power of $\sim$1200. The relatively large size of dust particles, coupled with their variable index of refraction in this spectral region allows the retrieval of particle sizes and optical depths under certain conditions. We will present global maps, ocean only, of the monthly mean impact of dust on AIRS brightness temperatures for the first year of AIRS operation. These maps, based on the clear scene brightness temperature differences between window channels with differential sensitivity to dust, show that AIRS retrievals will have to take dust contamination into account over large geographic areas, primarily due to dust from the African continent. More detailed studies of individual dust events show good agreement with MODIS observations of dust. The physical retrieval of dust optical properties for several of these events will be presented, and their potential impact on longwave forcing.
DE: 0305 Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801)
DE: 3360 Remote sensing
SC: Hydrology [H]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting